Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Nosara and San Antonio, TX

For one person, living is cheaper in Nosara: $1,837 a month against $2,418 in San Antonio, TX, rent and utilities included – about $7,000 less a year. Rent and utilities account for about half of the difference.

89

Cost of Living Index in Nosara
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Nosara Living Index
117

Cost of Living Index in San Antonio, TX
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San Antonio, TX Living Index

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Nosara

🇨🇷 Costa Rica

$1,837

/mo nomad

San Antonio, TX

🇺🇸 United States

$2,418

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Nosara and in San Antonio, TX

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Nosara and in San Antonio, TX actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $1,837 per month in Nosara vs $2,418 in San Antonio, TX, rent included.

Nosara $1,837
San Antonio, TX $2,418

A couple spends around $2,775 per month in Nosara vs $3,672 in San Antonio, TX, rent included.

Nosara $2,775
San Antonio, TX $3,672

A family of three spends $3,712 per month in Nosara vs $4,926 in San Antonio, TX, rent included.

Nosara $3,712
San Antonio, TX $4,926

Nosara is about 24% cheaper than San Antonio, TX, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Both Nosara and San Antonio, TX sit above the global median – Nosara by 37%, San Antonio, TX by 80%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$12.22 ₡5,509

$18.28 $18.28

-33.15%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$60.2 ₡27.1K

$75.3 $75.3

-20.07%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.54 ₡3,399

$10.10 $10.10

-25.35%

Cappuccino

$4.31 ₡1,941

$5.18 $5.18

-16.80%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.72 ₡773

$2.63 $2.63

-34.60%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.35 ₡608

$1.70 $1.70

-20.59%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.24 ₡1,459

$5.47 $5.47

-40.77%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.48 ₡2,018

$6.11 $6.11

-26.68%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.57 ₡707

$1.20 $1.20

30.83%

White Bread (500g)

$3.17 ₡1,429

$3.39 $3.39

-6.49%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.42 ₡1,091

$4.41 $4.41

-45.12%

Eggs

$3.57 ₡1,609

$3.82 $3.82

-6.54%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.43 ₡3,349

$11.94 $11.94

-37.77%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.42 ₡4,697

$11.49 $11.49

-9.31%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.66 ₡6,156

$17.96 $17.96

-23.94%

Apples (1kg)

$2.32 ₡1,044

$4.68 $4.68

-50.43%

Banana (1kg)

$1.61 ₡728

$1.62 $1.62

-0.62%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.74 ₡2,138

$4.28 $4.28

10.75%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.66 ₡747

$3.44 $3.44

-51.74%

Potato (1kg)

$3.72 ₡1,679

$2.53 $2.53

47.04%

Onion (1kg)

$3.57 ₡1,611

$3.06 $3.06

16.67%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.10 ₡497

$1.89 $1.89

-41.80%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.55 ₡1,149

$2.29 $2.29

11.35%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.95 ₡2,232

$9.56 $9.56

-48.22%

Wine (Bottle)

$20.01 ₡9,020

$14.73 $14.73

35.85%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.79 ₡1,256

$2.78 $2.78

0.36%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.53 ₡1,589

$3.48 $3.48

1.44%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.19 ₡537

$1.26 $1.26

-5.56%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$72.1 ₡32.5K

$37.51 $37.51

92.14%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.24 ₡1,011

$3.47 $3.47

-35.45%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.55 ₡701

$1.76 $1.76

-11.93%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.86 ₡3,993

$24.13 $24.13

-63.28%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.57 ₡708

$0.92 $0.92

70.65%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$21.8K ₡9.8M

$36.5K $36.5K

-40.24%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$34.6K ₡15.6M

$25.9K $25.9K

33.73%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$93.5 ₡42.1K

$216 $216

-56.80%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$35.11 ₡15.8K

$71.3 $71.3

-50.73%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$51.5 ₡23.2K

$78.5 $78.5

-34.38%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$71.4 ₡32.2K

$36.92 $36.92

93.39%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$35.44 ₡16.0K

$21.24 $21.24

66.85%

Cinema Ticket

$7.84 ₡3,535

$14.43 $14.43

-45.67%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$490 ₡220.7K

$1,306 $1,306

-62.53%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$11.9K ₡5.4M

$19.2K $19.2K

-38.24%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$53.5 ₡24.1K

$52.1 $52.1

2.74%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$55.8 ₡25.1K

$50.6 $50.6

10.15%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$79.3 ₡35.7K

$135 $135

-41.17%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$78.9 ₡35.6K

$148 $148

-46.56%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$786 ₡354.3K

$1,460 $1,460

-46.17%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$780 ₡351.6K

$1,054 $1,054

-26.01%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,860 ₡1.7M

$2,925 $2,925

31.95%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,407 ₡634.4K

$2,021 $2,021

-30.37%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$6,972 ₡3.1M

$4,389 $4,389

58.85%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,201 ₡541.3K

$1,854 $1,854

-35.24%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$876 ₡395.0K

$4,095 $4,095

-78.60%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

8.62

6.44

33.85%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Nosara: October 5, 2026

Last update for San Antonio, TX: October 4, 2026

Monthly budget structure

Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.

Accommodation & Living

Nosara

$780 43%

San Antonio, TX

$1.1K 43.9% 35.1% $274

Groceries & Markets

Nosara

$350 19.3%

San Antonio, TX

$393 16.3% 12.3% $43

Eating Out

Nosara

$209 11.6%

San Antonio, TX

$296 12.3% 41.1% $86

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Nosara

$180 9.9%

San Antonio, TX

$366 15.2% 103% $186

Clothing & Footwear

Nosara

$120 6.6%

San Antonio, TX

$173 7.2% 44% $53

Sport & Entertainment

Nosara

$87 4.8%

San Antonio, TX

$66 2.7% 24.5% $21

Getting Around

Nosara

$87 4.8%

San Antonio, TX

$55 2.3% 36.9% $32

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $786 in Nosara versus $1,460 in San Antonio, TX. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 367% higher in San Antonio, TX, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $60.0 in Nosara versus $75.0 in San Antonio, TX. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $350 vs $393 – making Nosara the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know

🇨🇷 Nosara

🇺🇸 San Antonio, TX

🕒 Local time

04:36 4:36 AM

05:36 5:36 AM

1 h ahead of Nosara

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

4,912

1,434,625

💱 Currency

Costa Rican Colón CRC ₡

United States Dollar USD $

📈 Exchange rate

1,000 CRC = 2.22 USD

1,000 CRC = 1.98 EUR

1 USD = 0.892 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

USD, EUR to CRC – Costa Rican Colón Converter

🇺🇸 United States Dollar ($)

🇨🇷 Costa Rican Colón (₡)

Costa Rican Colón exchange rates as of October 10, 2026: 1 USD = 451 CRC (1,000 CRC = 2.22 USD). 1 EUR = 505 CRC (1,000 CRC = 1.98 EUR).

United States Dollar exchange rates as of October 10, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.12 USD (1 USD = 0.892 EUR).

USD to CRC in detail →

On the map

Lowest

Highest

Between locations

Nosara San Antonio, TX 2,540 km ≈ 3 h 45 min nonstop flight

From you

Nosara
San Antonio, TX

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

Nosara vs San Antonio, TX: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $1,837 in Nosara, $2,418 in San Antonio, TX – roughly 32% apart. Outside of rent, the biggest gap is in eating out.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,756 per month in Nosara and $3,627 in San Antonio, TX. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Nosara, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Public transport costs about 92% less in Nosara. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

Kindergarten costs $490 per month in Nosara and $1,306 in San Antonio, TX. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $3,000 monthly budget goes further in Nosara, where all-in costs run around $1,837, than in San Antonio, TX at $2,418. In Nosara it covers expenses comfortably, while in San Antonio, TX it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

It depends on your priorities. Nosara has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $1,837 in Nosara to $2,418 in San Antonio, TX. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Nosara. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, San Antonio, TX makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.